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Dedicated A.P.R.S. Radio and Antenna Install

May 17, 2009

AB9NN-9's Dedicated APRS Radio Install

AB9NN-9's Dedicated APRS Radio Install

 

 

So the APRS radio and antenna install discussed in this blog post is certainly far from perfect.  It has strong points and weaknesses.  I did and had done what felt comfortable for me, what I had time for and what I had funds for.  I will discuss what I like and what I see as some improvements that you might want to make on your install.

First – why I did my install the way I did.  See photo of the interior of the car.  The car is a 2005 Pontiac Bonneville.  It runs in temps to 30 below zero or more and as high as 100 above zero or more.  That can be hard on a radio.  Security types will tell you to mount the main body of the radio in the trunk.  I chose right up front where it has good airflow from the heater and air conditioner.  I also can keep an eye on it…  So there is one trade-off.

Another trade-off is the mounting of the remote control head for the HF radio.  There was a metal disk pre-attached to the top of the dash near the front edge of it.  A liberal amount of Super Glue to a GPS mount and the control head is at a good location for quick viewing.  It is also within reach just like the car’s main radio and other controls.  But – it is hanging out over the edge of the dash.  In VERY bumpy conditions I could rip it from the mount while tuning or such.  So there is a trade-off.  I chose safety and quickness of information retrieval.  This radio also has controls on the mike which helps.

 Thirdly – where to mount the two radios?  I chose side by side.  They should both get adequate airflow and so cooling should not be an issue.  Passengers should be able to fit in.  And in this car – it has a wrap under dash – so it would be tough to mount them in the passenger compartment elsewhere.  But I have some nice holes in the side console.  A trade-off.  I plan on driving the car for enough years to make it worth it.

Fourth – the antenna mounting locations.  I have the two antennas on the two back corners of the trunk.  Free from metal to block their paths to the extent practical.   I know – the consummate hams would have them up on the roof.  Great RF shielding and a better ground plane, etc..  Sorry – this car is not going to look like it’s from Mars (I mean look like a REAL ham’s car)…

One thing I am not sure of is just what the APRS radio blasting away at 60 watts with it’s anenna close to the other radio’s 2 meter scanner will do to its front-end.  Seems to be ok.  The data bursts sound like lightning strikes.  Time will tell.  Stay tuned.  The APRS 2 meter antenna I went with, by the way, equates to about a 4 db gain and is 48” tall.  There was another antenna I almost ordered by mistake that was I believe 96” tall and had a better than 6 db gain.  Another trade-off.

OK – there is one way to install a ham radio (or CB radio, etc) into a car.  And one way to do APRS and voice at the same time through the use of two radios.  Some would prefer one radio that can do both.  But then you also need another radio to do HF, and I had that already.  So this was a reasonable cost alternative.  Good luck with your install project!  I used Best Buy to do some of the work and a car dealer to do some other work.  Best Buy was much quicker, less expensive and just as professional.

Stay radio active!

Jon Kreski, AB9NN-9

http://www.HamRadioResources.com

Track me on APRS Maps live – http://aprs.fi/?call=AB9NN-9&timerange=86400  Use callsign = AB9NN-9

 


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